Welt-laying machine.



: ED STATES e our E.

JAMES CAVANAGH, OE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMIQANY, OF IPATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF 'NEW J EBSEY.

' WELT-LAYING MACHINE.

Application filed November 20, 1911. Serial No. 661,211.

'0 all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, JAirns CAvANAeH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State the ball portion.

of Massachusetts, have invented certainImprovements in Welt-Laying Machines, of

which the following description, in connec;

' tion with the accompanying drawings, is a I Davenport,

specification, like reference characters on like parts in the the drawings indicating several figures.

This invention relates to welt-laying ma-" chines and is\ herein shown and described .;as

embodied in new and improved mechanism for supporting and pressing a weltjor other marginally projecting portion of a shoe.

against the margin of the solewhich ex= tends beyond the last in opposition to the pressure applied to the outer face, of the sole in the sole laying operation. It is to be understood, however, that the invention may be used in other machines where a simitrimmed, a filling of cork and cement is.

placed upon the insoleto bring it up level with the inseam. Cement is then applied to the filling and to the welt and also to the inner face of the outsole. The outsole is positioned upon the shoe and the shoe placed in the sole laying machine which supports the shoe at the heel and toe portions and forces a molded pad against the outer face of-the sole to shape the sole and: press it firmly in contact with the shoe and hold it in position until the cement has caused the outsole to adhere to the shoe. in practice, however, that there is often imperfect adhesion of the welt to the margin of the outsole especially when the welt .is

of light stock or is inadequately beaten, and i that the welt has therefore a tendency to curl or twist away from the sole. This tendupwardly away from the invention shown Holland, 362,447, and in that to It is found ency is particularlynoticeable at those portions of the periphery of the forepart of the Patented Nov. so, 1915;

shoe having the greatest outward curvature,

that is, at the toe and just .to the rear of In sewing on a. welt around a curyed portion of the ,shoe the outer margin' ofthe welt is placed under tension and as'a result of this the welt has a strong tendency to turn upwardly toward the shoe upper. This tendency is further accentuated by theangle formed in the maattached to the margin of the upper and the between-substaiice of the insole. This lack :of adhesion between the welt and the outsole is due also try a partial return of the outsole 'terial of the welt along the line where it isa toits original flat condition after the removal. of the shaping pressure of the pad thereuponm The tendency ofthe welt to curl margin of the outsole is partially, but usually not entirely, overcome by the operation of weltbeating:

It isof course highly desirable that all tendency of the welt to twist or curl away from the sole be overcome during th'e'sole laying operation so ,that the welt will adhere properly to the'sole margin throughout its extent. As a result of the lack of adhesion between the welt and the margin of the outsole and their consequent separation, the cement between them is exposed to the air and its hardening accelerated, and as. often some time elapses between the operation of sole laying and that of sewing on the outsole it may happen that the cement has become ,so hard as to interfere seriously with making a close connection between the welt and the margin of the outsole in the outsole stitching operation...

As a feature of the present invention, novel means associated with a toe block is provided which extends around the fore-' part of the shoe and clamps the welt against the outstanding edgeof the outsole. welt pressing means may be continuous as shown, or may be in a number of sections suitably supported. The part of the welt presser which engages the Welt is preferably made resilient or yielding, so that as pressure is applied thereto all parts of the Welt will be engaged and held against the outsole.

-This In case the welt presser is made of such material as soft rubber it may be desirable to back it up by more rigid material, such for example as a plate of spring steel or even one of more rigid material placed upon the welt presser and through which pressure is applied thereto. The yielding and resilient characteristics of the presser are of importance in effecting a distribution of the pressure and in enabling the presser to adapt itself to inequalities in the material being pressed. Furthermore, the presser is molded to correspond to the shape and size of the average shoe of a given range of sizes or styles and is able by its resilient and yielding characteristics to conform to and hug closely shoes having varying sizes and contours of the forepart.

Another feature of the invention relates to the means fo' attaching the welt presser to its supporting member so that a predetermined pressure may be applied through it to the welt. Sole laying machines as usually constructed are provided with a standard adjustably mounted upon a cross-head which carries a cushioned block for engaging the forepart of a shoe to support the same in opposition to the pressure exerted upon the bottom of the shoe by the sole laying pad. In an embodiment of this feature of my invent-ion a collar is mounted upon the said standard and arranged to be resiliently depressed, and means is provided for varying the tension of the resilient means so as to apply a predetermined pressure to the welt. Arms extend outwardly and downwardly from the collar to provide -supports for the welt presser at a plurality of points. In practice and as illustrated one arm extends to the toe portion of the presser and one to each side of the shoe to engage portions of the presser opposite the ball 01' instep of the shoe. This arrangement of the presser supports embodies another important feature of the invention: namely, that the work presser is more firmly sup ported at the points where it engages those portions of the welt having the greatest curvature, that is, at the toe and ball portions, where the tendency of the weltto separate from the sole is consequently greatest, as previously explained, it being highly important that the means for applying pressure to the welt should be especially effective at the toe and ball portions.

Another feature of the invention consists in the provision of novel means for adapting a single presser to shoes of a variety of widths and sizes. In the illustrated machine the arms which are attached to the welt presser along the sides of the shoe have provision for movement or ad ustment of the presser relatively to them. Preferably this provision for adjustment may take the form of stud and slot connections between the arms and presser, and as shown slots are formed in the presser and are provided with suitable bushings, preferably corrugated to hold firmly in the material of the presser, for the reception of stud screws which pass through the bushings and are threaded into the presser support to which the presser is clamped by tightening the screws.

The construction of the welt presser of a continuous strip of resilient material embodies another feature of the invention. The workman in presenting the work in the machine holds the rear portion of the last upon the heel support and forces the forepart of the shoe into the band which is set, by the adjustment referred to. tightly enough so that the weight of the shoe will be sustained as itis brought down against the sole laying pad. The resiliency of the band enables it to conform to the different shape and swing of the foreparts-of shoes and to limited variations in size without change of adjustment; and the frictional engagement of the band with the shoe, in spite of these variations, is sufficient to sustain the shoe until supported by the sole pad.

As a further featlu'e of the invention the welt presser is so constructed as to be more easily flexed at the points where the amount of vertical flexure is greatest, as at the point where the welt turns from the ball portion into the shank portion and at the corners of the toe.

An important feature of this invention consists in novel means for holding the welt during the sole laying operation. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the Welt holding means comprises a. resiliently supported flexible member which is preferably arranged to embrace the forepart of the shoe.

A further feature of the invention consists in a novel combination of welt holding means with a toe block. As herein shown a toe block is arranged to hold the forepart of the shoe against the upward pressure of the sole laying pad. and the welt holder is resiliently movable relatively to the block. Preferably the welt holder is yieldingly held in such relation to the toe block that the holder clamps the welt and the margin of the shoe sole against the sole pad before the toe block clamps the last and the body of the sole against the sole pad. For this purpose the welt holder is mounted on the toe block support for movement upwardly against spring pressure which can be predetermined by adjustments.

Another feature of the invention consists in a welt holder comprising continuous. flexible means. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention a thick flexible rubber band is arranged to embrace the forepart of the shoe and bear upon the top face of the welt. Frictional engagement of the band with the forepart of the shoe may be utilized to assist in holding the forepart of the shoe while the shoe is carried into endetailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, and will be defined in the appended claims.

Figure l is a side view of'a portion of a. sole laying machine with an illustrative embodiment of my invention applied thereto; and Fig. 2 is a detailin perspective of an end portion of the welt presser.

' As illustrated, the shoe supporting jack is secured to a cross-head 2 which is mounted to reciprocate on vertical guide rods 4.v The cross-head is supported upon. springs 6 surrounding the guide rods and is depressedto bring the sole of the shoe into contact with the presser pad 8 by means of a treadle (not shown) connected by rods 10 to the cross-head. Clutch collars 12" are mounted to reciprocate upon the guide rods 4 above the cross-head 2 and act to lock the cross-head 2 in its depressed position during the upward movement of the presser pad 8 to press the sole into position-upon the shoe.

A rock-shaft 14 is mounted in the crosshead 2 and carries arms 16 which are connected by links 18 with levers 20 pivoted at 22 and having upwardly directed ends 24 adapted to engage the clutch collars 12, it

being understood that these parts are duplicated upon the opposite side of the machine. The rock-shaft 14 also carries a handle 26 byoperation of which, through the system of levers described, the clutch collars 12 may be raised so as to release them from the guide rods 4 and allow the spring 6 surrounding the guide rods to raise the crossvhead 2 and the clutch collars to their initial position.

' The jack comprisesas usual a depending last pin,'not shown, and a rest provided with a cushion 30 to engage the top. face of the forepart of the shoe.

For a .fuller description of the mechanism above briefly described, reference may be had to. the patents previously mentioned.

The cushioned block 30 which holds the toe portion of the shoe against the action i of the presser pad 8 is pivoted at 32, upon an axis extending longitudinally of the shoe,

- adjustment to a block 34 which is pivoted, upon an axis extending at right angles to the axis 32, to a member 35 secured to the-post 36 which is fixed to a block 38 mounted to slidefor on the T-guide 40.01? the crosssliding movement a collar ,42 carrying the arms 44 and 46 which extend outwardly and downwardly therefrom toward the plane ofthe shoe 'bo'ttoni? The post 36 is provided with a keyway 50 and a screw 52 is threaded through the collar 42 into ensupport.

To provide the requisite pressure of the;

presser upon the welt during the sole lay- 1ng operation, a spring 60 is provided which surrounds the post 36 and rests upon the upper side of the collar 42. The other end of the spring/rests against the nut 62 which is threaded upon the post 36 and provides means for adjusting the tension of the spring 60/ The initial position of the welt presser as the shoe is brought into engagement with it issomewhat below the normalposit'ion of-the welt relatively to the toe block 30, and as the jack is brought down by the operation of the treadle through the rods 10 into position with the shoe resting upon the pad 8 and the pad is raised, the welt presser 56 first applies pressure to the welt, and as the pressure of the presser upon the welt increases by reason of the upward movement of the pad 8 the presser yields to permit the toe of the shoe to come in contact with the block 30 the collar .42 sliding upwardly upon the post- 36 and compressing the spring 60. p

The presser member 56 is preferably made of some such material as soft rubber and may, if found desirable, be strengthened by a backing of metal or other suitable material, placed upon the top thereof. The welt presser is provided with holes or slots for attaching it to the arms 44, 46 of the The arms have flanges '72 against whichthe presser or its backing may rest and stud-screws 74 are passed upwardly .through the holes in the presser and are threaded into the arms, the heads of the screws being sufficiently large to bear against the presser member and hold it in position upon the arms. The holes of the presser member where it is attached to the side arms 46 are preferably elongated as shown in Fig. 2 and provided with bushings 76 so that the side portions of the presser may be adjusted laterally of the shoe 'rela- 'are attached to the presser member a portion of the material of the presser is re moved as at 78, Fig. 2, so that these portions of the presseg are more flexible than its other portions. From F i-g. 1 it'will'be seen that this portion of the presser operates &

upon the welt at the point of its greatestupward curvature from the ball toward the shank.

In the operation of the machine a shoe is placed upon the heel pin (not shown), and the torepart ot the shoe swung into place beneath the cushioned toe block 2-30 and into the embrace of the welt presser which, as the shoe is forced upwardly against the block 3() applies initial pressure down- \vardly upon the welt, the sole of the shoe meantime being pressed up against the bottom of the shoe by the hands of the operator and held there by cement. 13y depression of a treadlc the cross-head 2, which is initially in an elevated position, is brought down to bring the sole and shoe against the pad 8. further pressure against which elevates the presser. The treadle may now be released whereupon the clutch collars 12 act to grip the rods r and prevent upward movement of the cross-head 2. Power is now applied to force upwardly the pad 8 and apply pressure uniformly over the entire bottom of the sole, the pressure of the presser member against the welt and outstanding margin of the outsole serving to maintain these parts in intimate contact with each other during the sole laying operation and until after the cement which has been applied between the engaging surfaces has caused them firmly to adhere.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the Inited States is 1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying pressure to the outsole ot' a shoe, of resiliently supported means comprising a flexible memher which engages the welt of the shoe in opposition to the action of the pressure applying means upon the margin of the outsole.

In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying pres sure to the outsole of a shoe, of a member composed of resilient material arranged to embrace the forepart of the shoe and means for holding the embracing member in position and applying an opposing pressureto the welt of the shoe.

3. A sole laying machine, having in comblock for opposing the pressure of the sole' pad and a welt presser arranged to contact with the welt and apply pressure resiliently thereto prior to the contact of the toe block with the shoe.

In a sole laying machine the combination with a toe block, a toe block support, a sole pad and means for relatively moving the said pad and block to apply pressure to the sole, of a welt presser, a support for the presse r mounted for movement upon the toe block support, and a spring for normally depressing the presscr below the plane of the welt of the shoe in contact with said toe block.

6. In a sole laying machine the combination with a toe block, of a toe block support, a sole pad and means for relatively moving the said pad and block to apply pressure to the shoe, a collar slidingly mounted upon said toe block support, arms extending downwardly from said collar outside the lines of the toe and sides of the shoe, and a welt presser carried on said arms and arranged to contact with the welt about the forepart of the shoe.

7. In a sole laying machine the combination with means t'or applying pressure to the outsole of a shoe, of flexible means for applying opposing pressure to the welt of the shoe, said welt pressing means having the greater flexibility at the points where the amount of flexure of said means when in operation is greatest.

8. A machine of the class described, having in combination, a band formed of a continuous piece of material arranged to embrace the forepart of a shoe and to bear upon the outstanding sole attaching flange, said band being mounted for vertical bodily movement. and means for pressing the band against the welt.

9. A machine of the class described, having in combination means for holding a last with a welted shoe on it, means for applying pressure to the shoe bottom, resiliently supported means for applying pressure to the outstanding margin of the welt in opposi-.

tion to that applied to the under side of the outstanding margin of the outsole and means for thereafter applying pressure externally over the forepart of the shoe.

10. A machine of the class described, having in combination, means for supporting the toe portion of a shoe, said shoe having a marginally projecting portion, means for applying pressure to the shoe bottom, and means for applying predetermined pressure to said marginally projecting portion in opposition to that applied to the outstanding margin of the sole;

,;1 1 A machine of the class described. havmg in combination, means for supporting a lasted welt shoe at the forepart thereof, means for applying sole laying pressure to the bottom of the shoe. and continuous, flexible means acting upon the Welt in opposition to the sole laying pressure upon the shoe bottom to secure adhesion of the outstanding margin of the welt to the outer margin of the outsole.

' 12. A machine of the class described, hav- 2 ing in combination, means for supporting a shoe which has an outstanding sole attachingfiange, means for supporting the outer margin of the sole adjacent to said flange, and means for forcing the flange into contact with said margin to cause adhesion of the cemented contacting surfaces, said means being constructed to apply automatically the firmest pressure at the portions of the flange extending about the parts of the periphery of the shoe having the greatest curvature.

13. A machine of the class described, having the forepart of a shoe, continuous means extending about said forepart adapted to engage the welt, means for pressing the welt engaging means resiliently toward the sole, alllld means for pressing the sole against the s 0e.

14:. A machine of the class described, having in combination, means for supporting the forepart of a shoe, means for applying pressure to the outer face of the sole in 0pposition to said supporting means, and means engaging the welt constructed and arranged to apply automatically the greatest welt flattening pressure at the points where the welt has the greatest tendency to curl away from the sole.

15. A machine of the class described, having in combination, a sole laying pad, a toe block and support therefor, and resilient means carried by the toe block support and shaped to receive and hold the forepart of a shoe prior to its engagement with the sole laying pad and to apply pressure to the welt during the sole laying operation.

16. In a machine of the class described, a. sole laying pad, a toe block, and flexible means for embracing the forepart of' the shoe and holding the same frictionally in position to engage the sole laying pad for the sole laying operation.

in combination, means for supporting 17. In a machine of the class described, the combination with suitable supporting means, ofa presser for the outwardly extending margin of the upper of the shoe, said presser being composed of resilient non-metallic material and having elongated bushings therein, and screw studs extending through the bushings and threaded into the support whereby the presser is adjustably clamped to its support.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination with suitable supporting mechanism, of a presser for the outwardly extending margin of the upper material of a shoe, said presser being composed of resilient non-metallic material and shaped to conform to the periphery of the forepart of 7 an averageshoe whereby it is able to conform to varying contours and sizes and to hug closely the shoe.

19. A sole laying machine, having in combination, a pad forengaging the sole, atoe block for opposing the pressure of the sole pad, and'means to engage and turn down a curled up 'welt around the toe prior to the application of sole laying prpssure to the shoe and sole.

' In a sole laying machine, a sole laying pad, a toe block, and'a thick flexible rubber band constructed and arranged to embrace the forepart of a shoe and engage the top face of the Welt during the sole laying operation.

21. In a sole laying machine, a sole laying pad, a toe block, means constructed and arranged to embrace the forepart of a shoe and engage the top face of the welt, and

means for holding the welt engaging means It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,161,843, granted November 30, 1915, upon the application of James Cavanagh, of Boston, Massachusetts,

for an improvement in Welt-Laying Machines, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Cancel all matter from line 34, page 1, t0 and including line. 96, page 2; page 3, line 7, after the period insert the Words In the drawings; and thatthe said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Office. xv

Signed and sealed this 18th day of April, A. D;, 1916.

[SE-ALL R. F. WHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

